The Hindu : New Delhi News : Power bill passed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 18, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Power bill passed

Special Correspondent

Different penalties: Shinde

Bill seeks to set up special courts

Plan to eliminate cross-subsidies in a phased manner

NEW DELHI: Parliament has approved the Electricity (Amendment) Bill with the Rajya Sabha passing by voice vote the legislation, which seeks to make electricity theft a cognisable offence. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on May 7. Allaying the apprehensions of members that the poor might be the sufferers while industrial houses could go scot-free, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said different penalties had been prescribed for the small and big categories. The Bill proposed to levy only a penalty for theft of less than 10 kw but for bigger thefts it not only incorporated the provision of imprisonment on the second offence but also proposed to bar power supply during the offender's jail term, which would be between six months and five years. He hoped the strict enforcement of the provisions would pare down transmission and distribution losses from 34 to 15 per cent. The Bill also seeks to set up special courts to prosecute those indulging in power thefts. It also proposes to eliminate cross-subsidies in the power sector in a phased manner.

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